Methods providing anchor change for ethernet PDU sessions and related network entities/nodes
AssigneeTelefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (publ)
InventorGyörgy Miklós
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method of operating a session management function SMF entity of a wireless communication network may be provided. An Ethernet context for a wireless terminal may be received from a first user plane function UPF entity, wherein the Ethernet context is provided for an Ethernet Protocol Data Unit PDU Session for the wireless terminal using the first UPF entity, and wherein the Ethernet context includes a Medium Access Control MAC address for the wireless terminal. The Ethernet context including the MAC address for the wireless terminal may be transmitted to a second UPF entity. Related methods of operating user plane function UPF entities of a wireless communication network may also be provided.
Claims14
A method of operating a user plane function (UPF) entity of a wireless communication network, the method comprising:
- receiving a request to establish an Ethernet Protocol Data Unit (PDU) Session for a wireless terminal using an Ethernet network, wherein the request to establish the Ethernet PDU Session includes an Ethernet context for the wireless terminal, and wherein the Ethernet context corresponds to a previous Ethernet PDU session established with a prior UPF acting as a first PSA and the Ethernet context includes a Medium Access Control (MAC) address for the wireless terminal;
- establishing the Ethernet PDU Session for the wireless terminal acting as a second PDU session anchor (PSA) for the Ethernet PDU Session for the wireless terminal using the Ethernet context including the MAC address for the wireless terminal;
- and
- updating forwarding for the wireless terminal in the Ethernet network using the MAC address for the wireless terminal responsive to receiving the request.
A user plane function (UPF) entity of a wireless communication network, the UPF entity comprising:
- a processor;
- and
- memory coupled with the processor, wherein the memory comprises instructions that when executed by the processor cause the processor to:
- receive a request to establish an Ethernet Protocol Data Unit (PDU) Session for a wireless terminal using an Ethernet network, wherein the request to establish the Ethernet PDU Session includes an Ethernet context for the wireless terminal, and wherein the Ethernet context corresponds to a previous Ethernet PDU session established with a prior UPF acting as a first PSA and the Ethernet context includes a Medium Access Control (MAC) address for the wireless terminal,
- establish the Ethernet PDU Session for the wireless terminal acting as a second PDU session anchor (PSA) for the Ethernet PDU Session for the wireless terminal using the Ethernet context including the MAC address for the wireless terminal;
- and
- update forwarding for the wireless terminal in the Ethernet network using the MAC address for the wireless terminal responsive to receiving the request.
A method of operating a user plane function (UPF) entity of a wireless communication network, the method comprising:
- receiving a request to establish an Ethernet Protocol Data Unit (PDU) Session for a wireless terminal using an Ethernet network, wherein the request to establish the Ethernet PDU Session includes an Ethernet context for the wireless terminal, and wherein the Ethernet context includes a Medium Access Control (MAC) address for the wireless terminal;
- establishing the Ethernet PDU Session for the wireless terminal acting as a second PDU session anchor (PSA) for the Ethernet PDU Session for the wireless terminal using the Ethernet context including the MAC address for the wireless terminal;
- updating forwarding for the wireless terminal in the Ethernet network using the MAC address for the wireless terminal responsive to receiving the request;
- establishing the Ethernet PDU session for the wireless terminal to support data communication between the wireless terminal and the Ethernet network through a base station and the UPF entity responsive to the request;
- and
- providing communication of data between the wireless terminal and the Ethernet network using the Ethernet PDU session through the base station and the UPF entity.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.